We arrive at Wizard Club thirty minutes later. I follow Grey from behind as he heads towards his workmates. His moods have changed since we left the house.
Three guys are seated, surrounded by expensive liquor bottles. Grey greets them enthusiastically, his gaze discreetly scanning the room. I look too.
"Jessica, long time no see," Ron, Grey's co-worker, stands up to greet me. He older, almost seems like our father. I've always respected him and considered him a nice guy.
"We know who to blame," Chase, another co-worker, says, eyeing Grey. He's charismatic and well-liked, but something about him rubs me the wrong way. I concluded he was sneaky within minutes of meeting him.
The third guy seems new; I haven't met him before. He seems distracted by his phone.
"Talia said she's running late," Chase says.
Grey sits, I move to sit next to him but he is preoccupied with his co-workers, so I opt for the free space beside the quiet new guy who barely notices my presence.
I start to regret even tagging along. He was right, i feel left out as they talk all finance. I pick my phone to see if what happened at La Cooper has been posted.
I find nothing, probably they are trying to hide it.
"Jessie are you still working at the Hotel?" Ron asks and he seems genuinely interested.
Grey hates when i talk about my job, it is unnecessary but someone has to do it.
I nod.
"I have a niece that just finished high school and intends to go in the hospitality industry, is there an opening at La Cooper?" He asks.
"What does she want to do?" I ask.
"Not sure, she is confused if she should first go to school or earn skills by working from the bottom,"
"What education is needed to dust and cook?" Chase pipes in.
I find Grey glaring at Chase. I wait for him to defend me but his glare is enough to cower Chase.
"I will ask," I tell Ron.
He seems satisfied with my response and just then Talia walks in.
"I need a drink, a hard one," Talia says, she is in a beige silk dress, showing off her long, toned legs. I instinctively cross my legs.
"I can give you one of those, and I guarantee it's not the drink," the guy beside me says, finally acknowledging me with a smirk.
"Eww! Harry," Talia says, disgusted.
Talia looks around finding a place to sit. She then pushes Grey with her hips and sits beside him.
His face holds a weird expression by the act.
I turn to find Harry staring at me, as if he can read my thoughts. "What?" I bark at him.
"Chill, I'm not the one you have a problem with," he whispers. Everyone turns to understand what we're saying.
I force a smile. "We're just getting acquainted," I say, trying to defuse the tension.
"You'll find him very interesting if you don't kill each other first," Ron says and smiles at me. "He's the opposite of everything you like and passionate about his opinions."
Harry grunts beside me, "I don't deal with opinions, only facts."
"I do too," I say, catching Grey's glance to rein me in before our conversation turns into a full-blown debate.
"Really?" Harry asks, his stare continuing to irritate me. "Let's see with a simple experimentâwhen we close our eyes, do we see nothing or just black?"
The table falls silent, waiting for my answer.
"Let's toss a drink for the night," Grey jumps in. Harry gives me a final glance of victory. Just for today.
Chase refills our glasses, officially starting our night. As we keep drinking, Talia suddenly stands up and excuses herself, prompting me to do the same.
I feel a sudden urge to confront her, yet i have no clue what to say to her. All i feel is a surge of confidence. Blame it on the alcohol.
Waiting outside her stall, all the questions i have for her race in my mind.
Then again i think how ridiculous the entire situation is. What am i going to say to her? Stop texting my boyfriend? Resign now! Stop making him smile that way?
"Ooh..." We are both startled when she steps out and finds me waiting. "I almost ran into you," she says, walking to the sink to wash her hands.
she looks at me through the mirror, confused. Since i make no attempt to leave or get in one of the empty stalls.
"Are you okay?" She asks like she is talking to a child.
I nod.
"I saw your post that you and Grey had lunch at The Nile Hotel," I say. She stops drying her hands and turns to me.
Her face succeeds in not betraying any of her emotions
"Yeah. It is a cool place you should ask him to take you there for his celebration," she says, sounding genuinely caring and happy for Grey and me.
I almost buy into her pretense that she cares for my relationship.
"What do you think of him?" I ask, making the matter less serious.
She removes her makeup kit and turns to the mirror. "Grey?" She smiles, amused by my question. "He's okay and dedicated to things he loves."
She does know him! he is disciplined in things he values. And such realization leaves a bitter taste.
"I mean, do you find him attractive?" I inquire, and her hand shakes, her eyeliner going beyond where it should.
Bingo!
She turns to me with a smile, "I didn't think you were that wild, but that's not how I swing. Thanks anyway." She tries to dilute the matter.
"Do you like him?" I ask, noting the seriousness in my tone.
"Oh God, don't take this the wrong way. He's just not my type." She lets out a small laugh.
Her words anger me in a way and i want to scream of how much of a catch he is. But i know she knows that...
"Are you currently dating?" I ask.
She forces a smile, "Why are interested in my affairs?"
"Nothing," I state. While i am dying to say, because you are overly interested in my boyfriend.
"I was on a date before I came here. Grey is the one who insisted I be here for this big moment." She informs me.
I then realize that I don't know what this "big moment" is that everyone has been talking about. "What exactly are we celebrating?" I ask, feeling silly for not knowing.
"Did he not tell you?" she asks.
I shake my head. "Probably did, and I forgot," I say lie.
"He's been aiming for that CFO position, and tomorrow they'll be announcing the person," she says.
Wow! It is a big achievement. He never tells me such big news.
"Chase wanted that position too, right?" I ask. Momentarily forgetting my agenda for being here.
"He's cool," Talia brushes it off.
"Really?" It's too unbelievable.
"I was surprised too. Chase has been in the company for a long time, and it was like an unspoken fact that he was the next CFO." She says.
"How did that happen?" I ask. I am happy for Grey it is the turn of events that seem too good to be true.
"Chase can surprise you, he backed Grey's promotion." She states.
Like usual, everyone sees Chase from a different perspective than mine. I highly doubt he's okay with that.
On the other hand, Grey has always been a passive bully. Over time, I've picked up on his "charming" tendencies that he uses to get his way. I wouldn't be surprised if he used that on Chase.
"Let's get back to the boys," she says.
I hesitate, my agenda for being here is still pending. But Talia is already on her way out.
As i we walk back i take long strides hoping to get our table first and sit beside Grey before she does.
But as soon as we get there the boys are on their feet moving to the dance floor.
Harry grabs Talia's hand and moves with her to the dance floor. She seems bothered by the act as her eyes remain on Grey who is on his phone.
I am about to go to Grey when Chase grabs my hand and leads me to the dance floor.
Grey looks over at us and nods with a smile, i inwardly hope he will save me and dance with me.
"Working at the hotel is really paying off," Chase says his hand brushing slightly over my hips.
I stop moving and grab his hand, "Touch me again and i will send you to the ER with no fingers," I warn.
He smiles wickedly, "I am just kidding, always knew that innocent hopeless look was an act,"
"The way you are acting you are okay with Grey's promotion?"
"Grey is my man, i am over the moon," I can sense the lies with each word.
I see Grey walking towards us but Talia stops dancing with Harry and steps in front of him.
I see her start to dance and nudge Grey and he starts to move like her.
"Those two..."Chase trails off walking away.
Talia and Grey continue to dance. Talia try to grind on him but he discreetly takes a step. I wait for him to at least push her off, yet she keeps trying to move closer.
"Man! she is wasted," Harry stands beside me.
I ignore him and return to the table where Ron is seated alone. He is dozing on and off. Grey and Talia continue with their Tom and Jerry dance. She moves closer, he moves away.
Tired of the scene, i grab my bag. "I am leaving," I walk to Grey.
"Why?" Talia asks.
"I am tired," I state.
Grey stares at me for a while, "Let me get my jacket."
An awkward silence stretches between Talia and I until Grey returns.
"See you tomorrow," Talia tells Grey with an hint of disappointment.
"Congratulation," I tell Grey as he unlocks his Cadillac.
He searches my face, "It was meant to be a surprise," He mutters.
Something i don't believe.